BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The faithful go to church to get the Word, but not necessarily this particular word.

Vandals struck churches across Jefferson County overnight, spray-painting a single word on doors, sidewalks and buildings. Delivered in purple paint, the word was "Memeneusha," or variations of it. Authorities say at least 20 churches countywide were hit.

Investigators can't really pronounce it, and sure don't know what it means, but they do know it's a crime. And they are trying to find out who is behind the damage.

Two men were taken into custody about 5 p.m. Friday and are being questioned at the Center Point substation. The extent of their involvement wasn't immediately made public.

Four of the six major churches in Pleasant Grove were struck: Bethel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, Church of the Nazarene and Pleasant Grove United Methodist. Churches in Hueytown also took a hit, as did some in eastern Jefferson County.

The Jefferson County churches are: Mountain View Baptist Church on Chalkville Road, Grayson Valley Good Samaritan Church on Huffman Road, Independent Church, also on Huffman Road, and Solid Rock Church on Pinson Valley Parkway.

In Irondale, the vandals struck Church of the Highlands where they got video of the attack, said Detective Michael Mangina.

Pleasant Grove police Cpl. Randy Coker said the vandals hit between 8:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. "It was just one word,'' Coker said. "That's all we know right now."

Hueytown police Chief Chuck Hagler said his city was hit hard as well, with at least four churches affected. "We are investigating several churches that have been vandalized in the city in a similar fashion,'' he said. "We are also aware of churches being vandalized in the same fashion in other jurisdictions across the county. We believe these were all done last night."

There were also at least two churches in Birmingham struck, including True Love Deliverance Church in Fountain Heights.

The Rev. Larry Ragland, pastor at Solid Rock Church, said the word painted on his building was " memenevshady." He doesn't yet know what it means.

"But I would say it is a statement by some group that is certainly against the church,'' Ragland said. "Very sad."

More information will be released as it becomes available.

Updated at 4:58 p.m. to increase the number of churches vandalized and to add pictures from additional churches.